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Hitesman & Wold

Hitesman & Wold
Archived Client Alerts

2010

December 23, 2010 - Holiday Miracle or Common Sense? - Agencies Delay Applicability and Enforcement of Fully Insured Nondiscrimination Requirement

November 3, 2010 - HRAs and Waivers:  Quick Action Required

November 2, 2010 - The “A” Accounts (FSA, HRA, HSA, MSA) - Reimbursing Over-the-Counter Medicine or Drugs on and after January 1, 2011

October 19, 2010 - Updated Certification of Dependent Status For Tax Purposes Now Available

October 12, 2010 - A Voice of Reasonableness:  IRS Issues Interim Relief Regarding W-2 Reporting

September 24, 2010 – Don’t Forget About GINA!

September 15, 2010 - Health Care Reform’s Impact On The Tax Treatment Of Medical Benefits Provided To Children

July 23, 2010 - Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review Process Regulations – No Major Medical Plan Goes Untouched!

July 15, 2010 - Guidance Released Regarding Cost-Sharing and Preventive Services

July 14, 2010 - Guidance From The Minnesota Department Of Revenue Regarding Adult Children

June 30, 2010 - Important Update For Early Retiree Reinsurance Program Applicants Final Application Issued Yesterday

June 15, 2010 - Grandfathered Plan Guidance

June 2, 2010 - Minnesota Taxation of Health Care Coverage Provided to Certain Children

May 27, 2010 - Minnesota Taxation of Health Care Coverage Provided to Certain Children

May 6, 2010 - ALERT – Payroll Personnel Rejoice:   Tax Free Coverage Rules Now Include “Adult Children”

Revised March 10, 2010 — Is the third time the “charm”?
                                                  COBRA Premium Subsidy Extended For Second Time
                                                  (originally issued March 5, 2010)

March 8, 2010 — All the Hype about HIPAA and HITECH
                               Have you done anything about it?

2009

December 29, 2009 - If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again:
                                        COBRA Premium Subsidy Extended

November 6, 2009 - ALERT – Red Flags Rule Delayed Again

October 20, 2009 – HIPAA Breach Notifications to HHS

September 23, 2009 - Breach Notification Requirements Now Effective

July 22, 2009 - More Money for Continuation Coverage/More Responsibilities for Employers. 

June 18, 2009 - Complying with Minnesota’s New Cafeteria Plan Requirement

June 5, 2009 - Minnesota Continuation Law Amended To Allow Extended Election Period

June 5, 2009 - Changes To New Health Insurance Premium Reporting Requirement

March 27, 2009 - More New Developments Regarding Continuation Coverage Premium Subsidies.

March 26, 2009 - New Health Insurance Premium Reporting Requirement Impacts Minnesota Employers

March 3, 2009 - Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 Includes New HIPAA Special Enrollment Events

February 23, 2009- “Stimulus Package” Imposes Significant New Continuation Coverage Responsibilities on Employers – Effective Immediately

2008

December 19, 2008 – Bailout – Benefits Style: Last minute guidance from the IRS

November 13, 2008 – Attention Group Health Plans: CMS-Reporting Requirements

November 3, 2008 – NEW LAW AMENDS FEDERAL DEFINITION OF DEPENDENT

August 25, 2008 – IRS Reverses Course on Special Rules Applicable to Determination of Dependent Status in Cases of Divorce and Separation

August 5, 2008 – IRS Releases Final Regulations Impacting Definition of Dependent

July 1, 2008 – IRS Increases Mileage Rates

June 26, 2008 – New law impacting 403(b) plans sponsored by Minnesota school districts.

June 3, 2008 – Congress Passes Legislation Affecting Health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

May 13, 2008 – Recent Developments Regarding HSAs, Cafeteria Plans, and Retiree Medical Benefits

March 11, 2008 – Minnesota “Fixes” HSA Rules Under State Income Tax Law

Client Alert: Annualizing Pay for School Employees: What you need to know BEFORE the 2008-2009 School Year and what you need to know NOW

The Definition of Dependent – Ticking Time Bomb

2007

November 21, 2007 – Minnesota Supreme Court Decides Unused Vacation Pay Case

October 29, 2007 – 2007 Form 5500 Released

Attention Cafeteria Plan Sponsors: We are excited to tell you about our newest compliance package!

September 10, 2007 – Final IRS Regulations Issued Regarding Dependent Care Reimbursement Expenses

August 27, 2007 – Change in Definition of Dependent under Minnesota Insurance Law: Impact on Governmental Plans

August 3, 2007 – IRS Issues Proposed Regulations Under Section 125

July 16, 2007 – Change in Definition of Dependent under Minnesota Insurance Law

May 12, 2007 – IRS Release 2008 Limits for HSAs

February 23, 2007 – CMS Creditable Coverage Notification Deadline of March 1, 2007

February 1, 2007 – IRS Rules on Public Sector Post Employment HRA

January 9, 2007 – IRS To Issue Guidance on New HSA Rules

2006

December 25, 2006 – President Signs New HSA Legislation into Law

December 22, 2006 – Transitional Relief for Debit Cards Used at Certain Merchants

December 11, 2006 – Congress Revamps Rules for Health Savings Accounts; Law Expected to be Signed by President Soon

November 22, 2006 – IRS Releases Additional Guidance for Debit Cards and Smartcards Used for Qualified Transportation Fringes

November 11, 2006 – New Indexed Amounts for Health Savings Accounts and Transportation Fringe Benefits

November 2, 2006 – Pre-Planning for the End of 2006

October 31, 2006 – Annual Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage Notice

October 27, 2006 – Active Duty National Guard Members Receive Tax Break on Early Retirement Account Withdrawals

October 26, 2006 – IRS Confirms & Clarifies Special Divorce Rules For Dependent Care Reimbursement Plans

October 24, 2006 – Unused Vacation Pay Case to be Reviewed by the Minnesota Supreme Court

September 6, 2006 – Employer Contributions To Health Savings Accounts Must Be Comparable

August 23, 2006 – The Importance of Providing COBRA Notification - And Being Able to Prove It

August 22, 2006 – New Law Allows Retired Public Safety Officers to Make Non-Taxable Withdrawals from Governmental Retirement Plans for Qualified Health Insurance Premiums

June 30, 2006 – HRA Updates for Public Sector Employers

June 5, 2006 – Dependent Care Reimbursement Expenses: New IRS Guidance

May 25, 2006 – "Member" For Purposes Of The Alternative Measurement Method Under GASB 45 May Be Broader Then You Think

May 10, 2006 – Last Day to Enroll in a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan Offering Coverage for 2006

May 10, 2006 – AHP Legislation May Soon Be A Reality

April 20, 2006 – Department of Labor Advisory Letter Received

April 20, 2006 – Your Employee Benefit Plan Has Been Selected For An Audit.... Now What?

Medicare Part D Notices

March 24, 2006 – Looming Health Plan Compliance Deadlines

February 20, 2006 – 2005 Year End IRS Guidance Summary

January 24, 2006 – Harry Beker Re-Confirms Death Benefit Provisions of HRAs

January 11, 2006 – New USERRA Regulations and Notice Posting Deadline

January 11, 2006 – MEWAs: File Your 2005 Form M-1 by March 1, 2006

January 3, 2006 – Guidance Issued by CMS (Creditable Coverage Notices)

2005

December 8, 2005 – Year End Alert: Federal Law Changes in 2005 and Clean Up

November 29, 2005 – IRS Issues Guidance Regarding FSA Grace Period and HSA Eligibility

November 4, 2005 – Indexed Amounts for Health Savings Accounts

October 19, 2005 – More on Post-Death Access under HRA Plans

Benefits Issues in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina

September 21, 2005 – Guidance on New Grace Period and DCAPs

July 11, 2005 – Adopting the New Grace Period: Not as Simple as it Looks

July 11, 2005 – Medicare Part D for Plan Sponsors: Get Ready, Get Set, Go

April 26, 2005 – Medicare Part D: Not Just About Retirees

April 13, 2005 – IRS issues Revenue Ruling 2005-24

April 1, 2005 – HIPAA Security Deadline

March 14, 2005 – HSA Reimbursement of Continuation Coverage

March 3, 2005 – Retiree Health Benefits

March 2, 2005 – FICA Taxes Applicable to 403(b) Contributions

February 16, 2005 – 401(a) Plans for Termination Pay

January 19, 2005 – State and Federal Law Changes Made in 2004 Impact Public Sector Programs

2004

December 21, 2004 – New Continuation Requirements Apply to All Military Leaves BEGINNING on or after December 10, 2004

December 1, 2004 – Changes to the Definition of "Dependent" Affect Medical Plans and Dependent Care Assistance Programs

November 9, 2004 – Contributions to HSA Not Excludable From Income Tax Under State Law